In a deeply unfortunate incident, a 61-year-old French tourist lost her life on Thursday afternoon at Fatehpur Sikri Fort after allegedly falling from a damaged wooden railing. The incident occurred as a group of 25 French tourists were engrossed in taking selfies at the Turkish Sultana Palace near the Khwabgah monument inside the historic fort.
The victim, identified as Esma Benyelles, suffered the tragic accident when the wooden railing she leaned on gave way, causing her to fall from the six-foot-high platform onto the red sandstone floor. Despite the absence of visible bleeding, Ms. Benyelles lost consciousness, suggesting a probable head injury.
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) immediately responded to the emergency. ASI’s superintending archaeologist, Raj Kumar Patel, reported, “The ASI staff promptly called for an emergency ambulance, but unfortunately, it arrived late.”
Regrettably, it took approximately 45 minutes for the ambulance to reach the scene. Ms. Benyelles was then transported to a private hospital located 40 kilometers away in Agra city, where she was declared deceased.
Shakeel Chauhan, the National General Secretary of the Tourist Guide Federation of India, expressed profound shock and concern over the delay in ambulance availability, stating, “This tragic incident will undoubtedly raise safety concerns among tourists, especially foreigners. The Ministry of Tourism, ASI, and local administration must take immediate and stringent measures to address these concerns.”
Responding to the tragic incident, Agra District Magistrate Bhanu Chandra Goswami ordered a magisterial probe into the circumstances surrounding the death of the foreign guest. He assured that “necessary action” will be taken to enhance safety arrangements for tourists visiting the monument. Mr. Goswami added, “The allegations of delay in ambulance service will be thoroughly investigated as part of the magisterial probe, and strict action will be taken against those found responsible.”
The incident serves as a somber reminder of the importance of maintaining and upgrading safety measures at historical sites to ensure the well-being of all visitors.
